With the summer holidays underway in England, I have asked my Youth Ambassadors to share the things they like to do in their free time in order to have a Screen Free Summer.
Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing their ideas – with everything from outdoor adventures to creative indoor activities. Do keep checking back to discover new ways to unplug, unwind and make the most of the summer break.
Lucas:
“This summer, I volunteered in Lourdes with the Hexham and Newcastle Diocese, supporting Assisted Pilgrims to exploring places of worship and celebration with other young volunteers. I would recommend volunteering to other young people because it was character building and I made such meaningful connections whilst valuing the opportunity to give back.
Another way I spent my summer was doing work experience which is a brilliant way to spend time off social media and to engage with other young people. It helped me build skills, save money and boosted my confidence for the future.”
Ellencia:
“Spending some time outside is important so having a picnic whether at the park or in your garden can be a relaxing and pleasurable idea, especially in the warmer weather. With friends or family, you can come together to enjoy food and conversation.
Camping is something I am doing for the first time this summer, but I think it’s the perfect way to spend time In greenery, around the fire with family or friends (or both). Additionally, being outside is beneficial for mental health, strengthening your mind and leaving you feeling revitalised!
If you aren’t particularly interested in spending too much time outdoors, learning a new skill such as an instrument, or baking, can be just as rewarding during the summer. Not only is it an interesting way to spend your time, but if you continue to pursue it, great opportunities can spring forth from pruning instrumental skills or cooking skills.
Finally, I would encourage you to simply spend time with your friends and family in any way you can. That may look like going shopping together or playing a sport you all enjoy, but it can also be inviting them over to talk or have a sleepover.”
Ashaz:
“We all know how easy it is to spend hours on our phones and social media, but I think stepping away from screens can bring real benefits. I think it can help improve sleep, boost mental health, reduce stress, and give you more time to connect with friends, family, and the world around you.
Being screen-free also gives you a chance to discover new hobbies, build confidence, and enjoy the simple moments that matter. Whether you enjoy reading a good book, playing football, cooking something new, drawing, skating, exploring nature or just hanging out with friends – let’s take a break from scrolling, get moving, and make this summer one to remember; full of fun, creativity, and real life adventures. Unplug. Connect. Enjoy.”
Violet:
“Last summer me and my friends played lots of tennis. We have continued that this summer and we also joined a netball team, it’s not competitive and is just for fun which makes it more enjoyable!”
Yusuf:
“When I’m off my phone, I’m usually doing something that actually feels real. Whether that’s walking around London, chatting with mates in person, or working on youth-led projects I’m passionate about – it’s those moments that stick.
I enjoy getting involved in the community, attending events, and just having proper conversations – no group chats, no scrolling. I also like just going out for a walk to clear my head. You think more when you’re not constantly distracted.
Being off your phone gives you space to focus on things that matter. You feel more present, and time doesn’t just disappear without you realising. I think it’s good to switch off from time to time – even if it’s just for an hour.”
Emma
“This summer I have been hanging out with my friends screen free by going shopping, out for food, to the cinema and going to the park for picnics when the sun shines. At home I have been doing puzzles with my family and delving into fascinating books such as East West Street by Philippe Sands which explores international human rights law and traces the origins of the concepts of genocide and crimes against humanity leading up to the Nuremberg Trials as well as the charming romance story of The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary.”
Stanley:
“Playing cricket and playing golf is how I enjoy spending my summer. This is a great way for me to unwind and enjoy a day of being outside and spending time with friends. When playing cricket, I often will be away from my phone all day until the game is finished, and this is very enjoyable and makes me realise the importance of spending time outside device free.
No matter what sport or hobbies you are interested in, it is important that you can set aside time for this and have a focus that doesn’t involve being on devices and allows you to appreciate other ways of socialising and enjoying free time. I find cricket so enjoyable as it brings together all types of people, of all ages and all backgrounds, and gives us a common interest that we can all spend a day enjoying together.”
Naemi:
“This summer I have really enjoyed time away from screens by colouring. Below is a picture of some colouring that I have been up to recently. It might not be perfect, and I still struggle to keep within the lines, but it’s a way of enhancing my creativity with different colour schemes, whilst also reminding me that I don’t have to be perfect at whatever hobbies I choose! Most of all, it keeps my eyes off the screen, my wrist slightly achy but my mind happy and busy!”
Anthony:
“Outside of school and away from screens, I really enjoy playing football in the park with my brother. We’re lucky enough to have a park very close to where we live, so when the weather is pleasant during summer, we make sure to go there at least once a day.
As well as being fun, football has also been a good form of exercise for me, which is crucial for the physical health of children and young people. Also, spending time in green spaces is great for mental health by reducing stress and improving your overall mood, so I would encourage all young people to spend as much time in their local parks/ forests as possible in summer.
Even if I have nobody to play with, I usually head down to the football pitches in the park and ask people if I can join in their game, which I can promise is much less scary than you think.
For those who aren’t very sporty, there are still many things to do away from screens. I would recommend visiting free museums or galleries, and simply exploring your local area more, by going for aimless walks with friends or family.
Being off our phones has many benefits. It helps us focus better on tasks, like schoolwork, improves your sleep by giving your brain a break from bright screens, and lowers stress by reducing constant notifications. It also encourages more face-to-face contact with people which improves our mental health, while also giving us more time to focus on other hobbies that our healthier for our mind and body.”
Ariana:
“When I need a break from scrolling endlessly through my phone – I experiment with new creative activities. For example, during the beginning of summer I’ve found to enjoy making bracelets, as I love to collect them.
Furthermore I try my hardest to silence my devices and spend time with my family whether it be helping in the kitchen or just having a conversation with them. These kinds of things help me to rely less on my phone as a form of entertainment and distraction.”
Chan:
“One of my favourite things to do is build LEGO with my nieces and nephew. It’s a chance to get creative, laugh and spend proper quality time with them. We build houses, animals and totally weird things that somehow turn into masterpieces! I particularly like the new Formula 1 LEGO which I got for my birthday. I also practise my drums daily, learning new songs.
When I’m not with them, you’ll find me training. I love the gym – lifting weights, staying active and pushing myself. It clears my head and gives me so much energy. It’s also where I get stronger for rugby, which is a massive part of my life. I play for Saracens Amateurs, Jamacia UK, ERA elite academy and Middlesex. Being on the pitch is the ultimate screen-free zone. It’s about teamwork, movement and focus.
What I’ve realised when I’m off my phone, I’m more present. I laugh more, I listen more, I feel more. Whether I’m in the gym or on the pitch, or building LEGO I’m fully in the moment – and that’s what summer should feel like.”
Finlay: “When I want to get off my screen in the summer I go outside and read. Reading is a great way to get off screens because it is easy to do. All you need is a book and a nice place to sit. When it is summer there is no better place to read than outside in the sun. Another thing I do when I want to get off screens is go paddleboarding at a local lake.
“Paddleboarding is a great thing to do because it is great exercise and has the bonus of being able to jump into the water when I get hot. Another thing I like about paddleboarding is doing it with my friends because we have great fun trying to push each other into the water. I think that getting off screens in the summer holiday, even if it is a few hours each day, can have great benefits.”
Annabel: “This summer I have been surfing in the south of France, trying to complete Limb Power’s 100 people raising £100 challenge, by surfing 100 waves.
“I’m also reading the Rebecca Yarros ‘Fourth Wing’ Trilogy, which I’ve been really enjoying. I’ve cycled over 100 km through many French villages and enjoyed the traditional cuisine along the way.
Gabriela: “This summer I have tried lots of new water sports for the first time, that’s me knee boarding in the photo. It was a really fun and exciting way to go outside and get off my phone. At first, I was really scared to try it but then with some practice I got the hang of it and really enjoyed spending time with my friends and family, completely forgetting about screens. It was also good form of exercise, as my legs burned the next day.
“I made some really unforgettable memories – I also love how it brought all my favourite people together to try it out. It was amazing to spend so much time in nature and in the sun – a true break from screens. I hope for the rest of summer I am able to try lots more new challenges without worrying about my phone notifications.”
Rosanna: “When I am not on my phone, I like to read books – recently, I have been reading ‘How to Stop Time’ by Matt Haig, with my cat snuggled next to me. I have also been painting watercolours, drawing and doing diamond art. I also love going on long walks in the nearby countryside, playing the piano and play games with my family.
“Other times I will visit friends, and we will play Dungeons and Dragons, or go shopping, or even just go for lunch or chat at the local library. There’s lots of things to do my local community such as Beat the Streets, challenge my family to beat an escape room with me, go to the local water park if it is hot, or visit a museum about ancient history.”
